Byron Aviation has officially begun operations in Fiji this month and immediately signalled a strategic shift beyond aircraft services by announcing plans to manufacture essential medical equipment locally, a move company leaders say will build specialised capability and create new jobs.
Chief Executive Pravin Singh said the company will diversify into healthcare manufacturing to produce items such as wheelchairs, stretchers and oxygen masks for hospitals across Fiji. “Beyond aviation, the company has plans to expand into the healthcare sector, manufacturing essential equipment such as wheelchairs, stretchers, and oxygen masks for hospitals bringing direct benefits to communities across Fiji,” Singh said in a statement accompanying the firm’s launch.
The company’s announcement also outlined continued activity in the aviation sector, with local production of aircraft seat covers, oxygen masks and sheet‑metal components, alongside supply and servicing of Ground Support Equipment (GSE). Byron Aviation said it plans to introduce RFID tracking for airport GSE, with the technology development and support to be provided from Fiji to improve operational efficiency at airports.
Byron Aviation expects the combined aviation and healthcare activities to generate between 50 and 60 jobs over the next year. The company framed the expansion as part of a broader objective to develop local industrial skillsets and reduce reliance on imported components for both aviation and healthcare sectors.
Investment Fiji, the government’s investment promotion and facilitation arm, backed the commissioning of Byron Aviation and welcomed the firm’s strategic investments. Investment Fiji said it is “proud to support and welcome strategic investments like Byron Aviation that drive innovation, create jobs and deliver lasting value for Fiji,” highlighting the move as consistent with government aims to foster local manufacturing and employment.
The announcement arrives amid several recent efforts to strengthen Fiji’s health system and supply chains. In recent months the Ministry of Health has been rolling out new technology and facilities—from prefabricated pharmacies at Lautoka Hospital to a national procurement of AI‑powered X‑ray machines—and donors have supported supply chain upgrades such as saline stock donations and equipment handovers to frontline centres. Local manufacture of basic medical equipment could bolster that momentum by improving availability of low‑tech, high‑use items and shortening supply lead times.
Byron Aviation’s entry into healthcare manufacturing also responds to broader industry needs: oxygen masks and patient movement equipment are critical across hospitals and community clinics, particularly during periods of elevated demand. Company leaders say producing these items in Fiji will allow faster delivery to facilities and provide opportunities for apprenticeships and on‑the‑job training in fabrication and assembly.
The firm did not disclose the exact location of its manufacturing facilities or the size of the initial investment in its launch statement. Plans for the next year are focused on ramping up production lines and recruiting staff to meet the stated target of 50 to 60 new jobs. As Byron Aviation begins operations, Investment Fiji’s endorsement suggests the government sees the company as a potential contributor to local industry diversification and skills development.
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